Sunday, August 19, 2007

Derby Match Later Today

Manchester City will not make Sunday's derby with United a physical battle, says manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

In the build-up to the Manchester derby, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has complained that flair players such as Cristiano Ronaldo are receiving inadequate protection against the cloggers, seen by some as a typical Ferguson tactic to influence the psychology of referees in games involving the Red Devils.

But new Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson says Ferguson need have no worries about an overly-physical approach from his players on Sunday, even though Fergie has already expressed his belief that City will go down that route to maintain their winning start.

Eriksson, though, says that if City win, it will be by playing football, not intimidation.